When I was a student at university, I didn’t have much money. I had to be careful what I spent each week on food. One time, while waiting at a supermarket checkout, I wondered if my shopping would cost slightly more than the money I had left for the month. “Just stop when we reach twenty pounds,” I told the checkout operator. I was able to buy everything I’d chosen except for a bag of peppers.

As I was about to go home, a man stopped me by the shop’s exit. “Here’s your peppers,” he said, handing the bag to me. Before I had time to thank him, he was already walking away.

Remembering this act of kindness still makes me smile. It brings to mind Jesus’ words in Matthew 6. Jesus didn’t like that some people only helped the poor so that everyone would see how amazing and kind they were (V.2). Jesus taught His friends a different way. Instead of giving being all about us and how ‘good’ we are, He said that giving should be done so secretly it’ll be like our left hand doesn’t even know what our right hand is giving away (V.3)!

As one person’s anonymous kindness reminded me, giving should never be about us. We give only because of all that our loving and kind God has already given us (2 COR. 9:6-11). As we care for people without making a song and dance, we show something of who He is—and God gets the thanks only He deserves (V.11).

By: Monica La Rose

To Pray About . . .

Father, thank You for Your kindness and love. Help us to freely and quietly share Your gifts with those around us.